Public works machines

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a machine, particularly a public works machine, constituted by a first chassis provided with at least one first group of rolling members, by a turret mounted to rotate on the first chassis about a first substantially vertical axis, and by a platform provided with an operating equipment, articulated on the turret about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and provided with a second group of rolling members capable of being oriented about a third axis which is substantially vertical, when the rolling members of this second group are in abutment on the ground, wherein it comprises in addition a second chassis, interposed between the turret and the platform, the second group of rolling members is mounted to pivot about the third axis of this second chassis, the platform is mounted to rotate on said second chassis about a fourth axis, which is substantially parallel to the third axis, and finally the second chassis itself is articulated to the turret about the second axis.

United States Patent 1 Gauchet PUBLIC WORKS MACHINES [75] Inventor: Yves M. Gauchet, Senlis Oise,

France [73] Assignee: Societe Anonyme POC LA IN Le Plessis- Belleville, France 22 Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,851

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,318,613 5/1967 House 280/81 A 3,430,985 3/1969 Hildebrandt 280/81 AX Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Attorney-Fitzpatrick, Cella, l-larner & Scinto [111 3,747,718 [451 July 24,1973

[57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a machine, particularly a public works machine, constituted by a first chassis provided with at least one first group of rolling members, by a turret mounted to rotate on the first chassis about a first substantially vertical axis, and by a platform provided with an operating equipment, articulated on the turret about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and provided with a second group of rolling members capable of being oriented about a third axis which is substantially vertical, when the rolling members of this second group are in abutment on the ground, wherein it comprises in addition a second chassis, interposed between the turret and the platform, the second group of rolling members is mounted to pivot about the third axis of this second chassis, the platform is mounted to rotate on said second chassis about a fourth axis, which is substantially parallel to the third axis, and finally the second chassis itself is articulated to the turret about the second axis.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PUBLIC WORKS MACHINES The present invention relates to a public works machine with deformable polygonal basis of support.

Public works and/or handling machines are known which are provided with a turret mounted to pivot on the chassis provided with rolling members. There is articulated on this turret a platform provided with operating equipment. On certain large machines of this type, the platform is very heavy and is then supported by a complementary rolling train, substantially disposed near the counterweight of the machine, opposite the operating tool that the operating equipment of said machine comprises.

Machines included in this last category have several disadvantages.

In particular, the rotation of the turret is ensured by rolling on the ground of the drive members of the complementary rolling train. This arrangement concommitantly necessitates a relatively large and unrestricted rolling area in order to enable the rolling members of the complementary train to be supported, and a sufficiently high resistance of the ground, for the drive members of the complementary rolling train to abut on a firm support.

Furthermore, the platform is permanently articulated freely on the turret and therefore the chassis does not participate in the resistance to overturning of the machine if there is a possible tipping due to the load momentarily integrated with the operating tool.

The'invention intends to obviate these drawbacks and to this end proposes a novel machine whose design enables it to overcome the limitations of use inherent in the prior known machines.

To this end, the invention has for its object a ma- V chine, particularly a public works machine, constituted by a first chassis provided with at least one first group of rolling members, by a turret mounted to rotate on the first chassis about a first substantially vertical axis, and by a platform; provided with an operating equipment articulated to the turret about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and provided with a second group of rolling members capable of being oriented about a third axis, which is substantially vertical, when the rolling members of this second group are in abutment on the ground.

This machine comprises in addition a second chassis, interposed between the turret and the platforms, whilst the second group of rolling members is mounted to pivot about the third axis on this second chassis. The platform is mounted to rotate on said second chassis about a fourth axis, which is substantially parallel to the third axis, whilst finally the second chassis itself is articulated to the turret about the second axis. A selective integration member is judiciously coupled between the said second chassis and said turret.

This integrating member coupled between .the second chassis and the turret is advantageously constituted by a jack.

In addition, when the rolling members of the first and/or of the second group are constituted by endless belt wheels, each such member is preferably disposed on a support articulated on the corresponding chassis about a substantially horizontal axis.

The invention will be more readily understood'from reading the following description of an embodiment given by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hydraulic drag according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the drag of FIG. 1, along section II II.

Referring now to the drawings, the drag shown comprises a first chassis l which rests on the ground 2 by rolling members 3. These latter are constituted by four endless traction belt wheels which are each disposed on a support 4 articulated about a substantially horizontal axis 5, when all the endless belts are effectively in contact with the ground, in the position shown in FIG. .1. It will be noted that the axes 5 of the different supports 4 are substantially parallel with one another, and also parallel to the axes of rotation 3a of the wheels driving the endless traction belts 3. It is also possible to equip the chassis l with one only pair of endless traction belts, or even with wheels.

A turret 6 is mounted to rotate on the chassis 1 about a substantially vertical axis 7. A second chassis 8 is furthermore articulated on the turret 6 about the axis 9, which is substantially horizontal. A jack 10 is coupled between the turret 6 and the second chassis 8, and enables these two elements to be rendered integral with each other by blocking the articulation about the axis 9.

Morevoer, a platform 11 is mounted to rotate on the second chassis 8 about an axis 12. The second chassis 8 is provided with rolling members 13, in the present case with endless belts, mounted on a support 14 articulated about a horizontal axis 15, parallel to the axis 130 of thewheel driving said endless belts. The axis 15 is itself disposed on a stirrup piece 16, itself mounted to rotate about an axis 17 perpendicular to the axes '15 and 13a. It will be specified that, when the rolling members 13 are in abutment on the ground 2, the axes of rotation 12 of the platform 11 on the second chassis 8, and 17 of the stirrup piece 16 on said second chassis 8, are substantially vertical.

It will also be indicated that an operating equipment 18, comprising in particular an operating tool 19 constituted by a drag bucket is articulated to the platform 11, whilst a counterweight 20 is disposed on this platform 11, substantially opposite the operating tool 19. The axes of rotation 7 and 12 have any relative position. In the drag described here, they are however distinct.

Finally, it will be noted that the rolling members 13 may be oriented parallel to the rolling members 3 and in the axis of the chassis 1. They may also be oriented perpendicularly to this first position about the immobile axis 17, and then be disposed inthe position 13b of FIG. 2. When the second chassis 8 rotates about the axis 7, the axis 17 moves plumb with a circle 21 centered on the axis 7. During this rotation, the rolling members may take any positions on the circle 21, in particular may pass from position 131: to position 130 after a'displacement of the axis 17 of about on the circle 21. They may even exceed this position to come to position 13d, in which, after correction of their orientation about the axis 17, they are parallel to two of the rolling members 3 and aligned therewith. It will be specified that, in position 13c, and according to what is shown in FIG. 2, the rolling members 13c are also parallel to the rolling members 3. The chassis which supports the platform is then at 8c and the axis that 'it supports is at 12c.

The drag that has been described functions as follows.

It is firstly good to indicate that the machines according to the invention are generally very powerful and also very cumbersome, at least as far as their clearance on the site is concerned. In order that these machines may still move on the road, whatever their means may be, or may be transported by a special trailer, it is necessary to limit their width to the maximum dimensions admitted for transport on the road.

In position 13 of the rolling members of the second chassis 8, and of course, when, according to what is shown in FIG. 1, the operating equipment 18 is contained in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chassis l, the grab is effectively movable on the road. The total weight is judiciously distributed over the different rolling members 3 and 13 in order to ensure a balanced support of the grab on the ground 1.

During a rectilinear movement, the articulation of the stirrup piece 16 about the axis 17 is blocked in order that the rolling members 13 are precisely maintained in position 13. Movever, the supports 4 and 14 of the belt assemblies may be oriented freely about their respective axes 5 and 15, this ensuring a good adherence of the machine, even if the displacement is effected on deformed ground. The orientation of the vehicle is ensured, in the case shown of the drag provided with endless belts, by the combined action of the orientation of the rolling members 13 and the inverse advance movements of the rolling members 3 right and left. This orientation is ensured by turning the drive wheels of the machine, for the machines provided with wheels. During these movements, the articulation about the axis 9, of the second chassis 8 on the turret 6 is unblocked and acts similarly to a conventional v trailer attached to a tractor vehicle.

dig laterally, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chassis 1, its stability should be increased in the above-mentioned direction. To this end, the rolling members 13 are oriented in order to bring them in position 13b. Then, by driving the members 13b, the assembly constituted by the second chassis 8 and the platform 11 is oriented about the axis of rotation 7 of the turret 6. The rolling members are displaced from position 13b to position 13c. The drag may then begin to dig. To discharge the bucket 19, it is sufficient, if necessary, to orient the platform 11 about the axis 12 and pour the contents of the bucket into a lorry disposed in the longitudinal axis of the chas sis l for example.

In this phase, the advantage will be noted of having provided the platform 11 to rotate. In fact, this arrangement avoids having to orient, for each discharge of the bucket 19, the assembly constituted by the second chassis 8 and platform 11, by driving the rolling members 13c, as is the case in the prior known machines. Consequently, even if the ground 1 is not very resistant, it is still possible to effect the digging, the only requirement of the ground being to have to'support, at a given location, the rolling members 13c, but not to resist their continual drive.

Furthermore, it will be noted that after having taken the rolling members to their position 130, it is judicious to block the articulation of the second chassis 8 on the turret 6 by means of the jack 10. In this way, an undeformable polygonal basis of support is constituted which in fact is delimited by the positions of the five endless belts 3 and 130. The total mass of the two chassis l and 8 and of the turret 6 participates in the resistance to overturning and not the mass of the second chassis 8 and of the platform 11, as is the case in the known machines not having the blocking jack 10. With the drag described here, digging performances are therefore obtained which are superior to those of the known machines.

It will also be indicated that the position of the rolling members of the second chassis 8 may be adapted to the work to be effected, and may for example be chosen at 13d and not at as before. In any case, whether these members occupy positions 13, 130 or 13d, it is always possible to orient them parallel to the rolling members 3. This particularity results in an easy displacement for the drag assembly, of course on the road, but also on the site, whether it be in rectilinear translation or cornering.

The following two interesting points will be specified if, as is the case of the drag shown, the axes 7 and 12 are distinct, it is possible to use the bucket to effect offset digging with respect to the axis of displacement. This digging may preferably be effected by means of the drag bucket 19, but may also be effected on rising ground with a loading bucket furthermore, the fact of having provided several rolling members 3 and 13 for supporting the total weight of the machine has made it possible to use elementary rolling members, in the present case endless traction belts, of reduced dimensions with respect to those that less numerous rolling members should have. This possibility finally led to the choice of rolling members already used for smaller machines, and thus to the obtaining of the advantages inherent to the standardisation of the equipment.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising; a first chassis, rolling means supporting said chassis, a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a second chassis connected at one end to said turret for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, further rolling means connected to said second chassis at its other end and pivotable about an axis which is substantially vertical when said further rolling means are in abutment with the ground, and a platform adapted to carry operating equipment and being mounted on said second chassis for pivotal movement in respect thereto about an axis parallel to the axis about which said further rolling means are pivotable.

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a selective integrating member is coupled between t the second chassis and the turret.

3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the integrating member coupled between the second chassis and the turret is a jack.

4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when either of said rolling means are constituted by endless belt assemblies, each is disposed on a support articulated on the corresponding chassis about a substantially horizontal axis.

4 I! l 1 I 

1. A machine of the class described comprising; a first chassis, rolling means supporting said chassis, a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a second chassis connected at one end to said turret for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, further rolling means connected to said second chassis at its other end and pivotable about an axis which is substantially vertical when said further rolling means are in abutment with the ground, and a platform adapted to carry operating equipment and being mounted on said second chassis for pivotal movement in respect thereto about an axis parallel to the axis about which said further rolling means are pivotable.
 2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a selective integrating member is coupled between the second chassis and the turret.
 3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the integrating member coupled between the second chassis and the turret is a jack.
 4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when either of said rolling means are constituted by endless belt assemblies, each is disposed on a support articulated on the corresponding chassis about a substantially horizontal axis. 